Welcome to the Church of the Holy Faith

We Are Many Faces

Some are born to it. Some are brought to it. Some come for a special service. Some find their way to The Church of the Holy Faith to celebrate Rite One. And, many come to hear music that exalts the spirit. We are many faces at The Church of the Holy Faith.

As part of our 150th Anniversary celebration, we conducted focus groups to see who we were and why we came. We know that in Santa Fe that people “church shop”; but we wanted to know if there was a driving force that brought people to our door. We learned that a lot of us started out as visitors and began sending others here before we officially joined Holy Faith.

Episcopalians come from many places other than the cradle. With any number of religious backgrounds, opinions run strong. Most parishioners remain true to the notion of “the middle way” which means numerous labels abound. To some we are “high church.” No one has ever said we are “low church.” We are not known for folk music or rock songs, yet our world-class choir when called upon, can pound out some rousing spirituals.

We worship in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We are proud of our Anglican heritage. On Sundays we worship according to Rite One and the traditional liturgy. On Tuesday evenings, we follow the more contemplative Taizé practice, using chants and Rite Two from the Book of Common Prayer. Our parishioners are comforted by our strong liturgical tradition. They like the “Bible preached from the pulpit.” Many are aware of a “deep sense of the Holy Spirit moving through the congregation.” The ritual and Solemn High Mass of Holy Day celebrations play a continual role to the stated mission of Holy Faith.

Given Holy Faith’s long history with The Santa Fe Opera and The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, it surprised few how strong a draw the “music -– beautiful hymns, the great organ” and “music that enriches the soul” play in their Episcopal worship.

We are steadfast in embracing the community of Santa Fe. Holy Faith’s ongoing “ties to and service to the community” particularly among the hungry and homeless is in itself a notable draw while providing an “opportunity to give back to the broader community in Santa Fe through service.”

We know our youth are our future. And, we see our outreach to the next generation as pivotal to our survival and the Episcopal Church. Parents of young children approve of Holy Faith’s “engaging kids’ program” along with the “timely and relevant framework that my children can be introduced to God, religion and the Episcopal Church.” The Royal School of Church Music program adds yet another dimension to perpetuating the choral legacy of this church and our parish.

At Holy Faith, we have an ongoing commitment to becoming especially aware of and welcoming to visitors, and by extending invitations to friends to join us at a service so that we all might help bring more people into a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. We hope you will join us. Come and experience the special place that is the Church of the Holy Faith.